The event, which has been featured by Fortune.com and coincides with National Small Business Week, was created to inspire and educate entrepreneurs and small business owners through keynote presentations, panel discussions and interactive workshops on topics crucial to helping small businesses grow big.

Small Business Festival (SBF) includes three days of paid Premier Events at the 800 Congress Space in downtown Austin, and five days of free Community Events at numerous Austin locations including Tech Ranch, Orange Coworking, WeWork, Capital Factory, T-Werx, the City’s Entrepreneur Center of Austin, Frost Tower, Microsoft and many more.

Almost 100 expert speakers will lead topics, including practical tips for starting or growing your small business, financing, sales, marketing, social media, public relations, staff recruiting and leadership strategies, networking training, freelancing and the “gig economy,” legal and economic trends. Topics will be tailored to help both entrepreneurs in the early stages of their business as well as established entities. Interactive workshops, coaching, pitch competitions and networking events will engage event attendees, providing individualized takeaways.

SBF Premium is all about providing ticket holders unparalleled direct access to world-leading experts and business minds, as well as providing a networking opportunity to rub shoulders with other motivated small business owners.

SBF is also dedicated to making all content freely accessible. On top of offering over 50 events free to the community, it is also making its Premium event open to the public globally through live stream (www.sbflive.com) along with multiple viewing locations provided by our live stream sponsor, Microsoft, and other venue partners.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and deserve to be supported and celebrated for the risks they take and the millions they employ.” Matthew Pollard, Executive Director of Small Business Festival.

The U.S. Small Business Administration reports that small businesses collectively make up 99.7 percent of U.S. employer firms, 63 percent of net new private-sector jobs, 48 percent of private-sector employment, and 42 percent of private-sector payroll.

According to the Austin Chamber’s Business and Industry Report, retail stores in Travis County alone account for 10,960 small businesses and over $18.5 billion in sales revenues. 2012 census data, before the Austin tech scene really boomed, shows that the Austin area’s 34,000+ small businesses accounted for more than 238,000 jobs, employing 27% of the population during that period.

CITY OF AUSTIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT - SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM
The Small Business Program is a division of the City of Austin’s Economic Development Department, and is committed to providing opportunities and resources to small businesses to help them grow and prosper in a competitive business environment.